Sat.May 22, 2021 - Fri.May 28, 2021

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Should User-Generated Content (UGC) be Exempt from Law and Regulation? Should Internet Platforms Bear any Responsibility for UGC they Distribute?

Hugh Stephens Blog

Should user-generated content (UGC) on social media platforms be free from any regulation and the rule of law, simply because it is user-generated? Should social media platforms be given a pass when it comes to any responsibility for the UGC that they distribute? That seems to be the message from those busy attacking Canadian Heritage … Continue reading "Should User-Generated Content (UGC) be Exempt from Law and Regulation?

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Can You Change a Trademark?

Erik K Pelton

The following is an edited transcript of my video, Can You Change a Trademark? Brands often evolve over time, and sometimes brand names or logos change or evolve. Some changes are subtle – such as Coke at one point evolving (temporarily) into New Coke. Sometimes they’re more dramatic – when a brand shifts its name entirely, or when two companies merge, Exxon becoming ExxonMobil, for example.

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Beer: You Know It When You Taste It, Or Maybe Not

The IP Law Blog

Hard seltzer first hit the marketplace about five years ago and rapidly grew in popularity with sales exceeding $4.5 billion in 2020. Wanting to ride the wave of success, many companies have introduced hard seltzers into this now crowded space. But what is a hard seltzer? Is it a form of beer or something else? Based on its popularity, most would say, “Who cares whether hard seltzer is beer, just give me one.

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Supporting Mental Health Awareness Month: Resources for Creators

Copyright Alliance

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and this national movement is exceptionally important as the COVID-19 pandemic has affected how creators work and make a living. Isolation, combined with the […]. The post Supporting Mental Health Awareness Month: Resources for Creators appeared first on Copyright Alliance.

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Software Composition Analysis: The New Armor for Your Cybersecurity

Speaker: Blackberry, OSS Consultants, & Revenera

Software is complex, which makes threats to the software supply chain more real every day. 64% of organizations have been impacted by a software supply chain attack and 60% of data breaches are due to unpatched software vulnerabilities. In the U.S. alone, cyber losses totaled $10.3 billion in 2022. All of these stats beg the question, “Do you know what’s in your software?

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Can Intellectual Property Rights Safeguard Your Blog?

Kashishipr

A blog is like any other creative work of literature manifested in a different form. Due to creative and original use of expressions, blogs are deemed to be counted as private property for which Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) can be sought. A blog may contain an amalgamation of such rights since blogs do not merely utilize words and phrases but also videos, eBooks, music, etc.

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Customs and Border Patrol Registration for Your Trademark

Erik K Pelton

Many business owners may not realize that if they deal with tangible goods, they can protect their brand with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in addition to the USPTO. In this episode, Erik details how to add this tool to your brand protection toolkit. The post Customs and Border Patrol Registration for Your Trademark appeared first on Erik M Pelton & Associates, PLLC.

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Myanmar: The new IP department and its extended ‘soft-opening’ period

Managing IP

Khin Myo Myo Aye of Tilleke & Gibbins provides an update on Myanmar’s IP department during the ‘soft-opening’ period

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Breaking Down the Instagram Photo Embedding Class Action Lawsuit

Copyright Lately

In a new development in the ongoing legal saga over photo embedding, Instagram has been hit with a class action lawsuit. Do the plaintiffs have a case? I finally had a chance to take a closer look at the new copyright class action complaint filed last week against Instagram. In a nutshell, the lawsuit alleges that the social media app induced and contributed to “widespread copyright infringement” by allowing third parties to embed photos from public Instagram feeds onto their own web

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What do dashed lines in a design patent mean?

Patent Trademark Blog

What is the meaning of broken or dashed lines in a design patent? While I’m not sure if you can call it a loophole, US design patents enable a particular option in the drawings that can potentially broaden protection. The use of dashed lines, or broken lines, in design patent drawings means that whatever is drawn in such lines is not claimed. In a US design patent, the claimed design comprises what is drawn in solid lines.

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Inventors, Physicists and Entrepreneurs: Commerce Home to Diverse-Range of AANHPI Pioneers

U.S. Department of Commerce

Inventors, Physicists and Entrepreneurs: Commerce Home to Diverse-Range of AANHPI Pioneers. May 27, 2021. KCPullen@doc.gov. Thu, 05/27/2021 - 09:16. Export and investment promotion. Intellectual property. Minority business growth. Inventors, Physicists and Entrepreneurs: Commerce Home to Diverse-Range of AANHPI Pioneers. The Department of Commerce is proud to join the Nation in recognizing the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, also known as Asian Amer

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IPO Diversity in Innovation Toolkit

Women and diverse employees have the technical skill and knowledge, yet their contributions are not patented at the same rate as those of their male counterparts.This toolkit can help organizations move the needle on achieving gender parity in innovation.

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EMAILS HELD NOT TO SATISFY CONTRACTUAL NOTICE REQUIREMENTS

GDB Firm Blog

Emails from a contractor to the City setting forth the nature of a claim and the amount of damages were held insufficient to meet the strict notice requirements of a public construction contract.

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Fish & Richardson Attorneys Named Recipients of the 2020 Patent Pro Bono Achievement Certificate

Fish & Richardson Trademark & Copyright Thoughts

Fish & Richardson is proud to announce that six of its attorneys were named recipients of the Pro Bono Achievement Certificate by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This recognition acknowledges those law firms and attorneys who help make the Patent Pro Bono Program a success. The Fish attorneys recognized and their respective programs include: Timothy Riffe – California Inventors Assistance Program.

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USPTO Implementing Trademark Modernization Act

IP Intelligence

Earlier this month, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) issued a notice of proposed rule-making [1] to implement provisions of the Trademark Modernization Act (TMA), which Congress passed in December 2020. [2] The public has until July 19, 2021, to comment on the proposed rule-making before implementation. The proposed rules create new nonuse cancellation procedures, shorten office action response deadlines and expand on the USPTO’s Letter of Protest procedures, among other cha

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Full Patent Protection vs. a Provisional Patent Application

TraskBritt Intellectual Property

The cost savings of filing a provisional patent application without consulting a professional are certainly tempting. However, such a strategy may ultimately cost more in the long run, including possibly costing valuable patent protection. What is a Provisional Patent Application? A provisional patent application allows a patent applicant to reserve priority in an invention before committing to the full utility patent application process.

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NOTICE? YOU WANT NOTICE? YOU ORDERED THE WORK IN THE FIRST PLACE!

GDB Firm Blog

An appellate court reiterates the sad truth that even the government's knowledge of a contractor's claim does not relieve the contractor of the duty to give formal notice of such claim in strict compliance with the contract's requirements.

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Fish & Richardson Attorneys Recognized as 2020 North Star Lawyers

Fish & Richardson Trademark & Copyright Thoughts

Fish & Richardson is proud to announce that 10 of its attorneys were named 2020 North Star Lawyers. Launched in 2013, the program recognizes Minnesota State Bar members who provide 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services per year to those who otherwise could not afford representation. In 2020, 757 North Star Lawyers provided more than 86,000 hours of pro bono service to people of low income at no fee, for a total value of $21.5 million in free legal advice.

Law 52
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Blocking orders available in Canada rules Court of Appeal in GoldTV case

Barry Sookman

In a landmark decision released by the Federal Court of Appeal in Teksavvy Solutions Inc. v. Bell Media Inc. 2021 FCA 100, the Court affirmed the blocking order made against the pirate streaming service GoldTV and confirmed that blocking orders are available in Canada to combat illicit online services that target the Canadian market with infringing copyright content.

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Prosecution history estoppel in India – A suit of armour or a double-edged sword?

Selvam & Selvam Blog

Introduction. Trademarks have over time, distinguished themselves as the popular kids among the Intellectual Property rights. This is so because they are perhaps the most protected amongst the bundle of IP rights and well, inevitably the face of your business. A trademark builds your brand value by rendering it exclusive, by distinguishing your business from the millions of competitors that emerge in the market every single day.

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Employers Should Watch For New NY Department Of Labor Regulations Requiring The Implementation Of Specific Measures To Prevent Transmission Of Airborne Infectious Diseases In The Workplace

GDB Firm Blog

On May 5, 2021, Governor Cuomo signed a new law directing the state Department of Labor (DOL), in consultation with the NYS Department of Health (DOH), to issue regulations giving employers clear guidance on specific measures they must take to prevent the spread of airborne infectious diseases in the workplace.

Law 52
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Fish & Richardson Ranks in Top “Band 1” Nationwide Rankings for Intellectual Property and ITC Practices in Chambers USA 2021

Fish & Richardson Trademark & Copyright Thoughts

The firm also received top “Band 1” rankings for patent and ITC practices in Chambers Global. Fish & Richardson received top “Band 1” nationwide rankings for its Intellectual Property (IP) and International Trade: IP (Section 337 Proceedings) practices in the 2021 edition of Chambers USA. The “Band 1” designation – the highest ranking possible – recognizes Fish as among the world’s best law firms based on in-depth, objective research with thousands of lawyers and clients.

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Protecting Sports Intellectual Property in Football Nets Many Benefits

Corsearch

Saturday, May 29, 2021, sees the final match of the UEFA Champions League. Will you be supporting Chelsea or Manchester City? Regardless of which team comes out on top, the event will be enjoyed by millions of fans who have waited for their team to reach the pinnacle of the European club football game.

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Trademark Clearance Searches for Devices & Shapes in India using Vienna Classification

Selvam & Selvam Blog

The Vienna Classification which originated from the Vienna Agreement (1973) is an international classification of the figurative elements of marks (more on the Vienna Agreement and classification can be found here and more on India’s accession to the Vienna agreement could be found here ). The first edition of the said Classification was published in 1973, with the Agreement effective from 1985.

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Restaurants are About to Take Off. Are Restaurateurs Prepared? Legal (and Business) Issues as Restaurants Open

GDB Firm Blog

The Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 was followed by the Roaring Twenties, and some are now predicting a modern version of a roaring 20's following our own Coronavirus plague. Just as in the Roaring Twenties, people today are gathering again and celebrating and much of this human interaction is taking place in restaurants. While the pandemic has decimated much of the restaurant industry, the industry is on the brink of a colossal rebound.

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The impact of digitalization, automation and AI on Intellectual Property

IP Blog

For the latest edition of the IP Trend Monitor's study, we focused on how Intellectual Property (IP) management is evolving in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other societal factors. In addition to transforming IP professionals' work environments, recent events have brought trends like digitalization, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to the forefront of industry discussion.

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Court Allows Limited Actual Confusion Discovery for Lanham Act Preliminary Injunction

Chicago IP

CampaignZERO, Inc. v. StayWoke, Inc. , Slip Op., No. 20 C 6765 (N.D. Ill. Dec. 4, 2020) (Valderrama, J.). Judge Valderrama granted in part plaintiff CampaignZERO’s motion for expedited discovery related to its motion for a preliminary injunction in this trademark dispute involving CampaignZERO’s CAMPAIGNZERO mark. Of particular note, the Court held as follows: As an initial matter, filing a preliminary injunction motion alone does not warrant expedited discovery.

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France: Open data future for court rulings

Managing IP

Beau de Loménie explain the timelines set out in France for the release of court rulings to the public, although further patience is required in concern of first instance decisions

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COURT FINDS LIEN LAW TRUST FUNDS TO BE DIVERTED DESPITE REPLENISHMENT

GDB Firm Blog

A project owner was held to have diverted building loan trust funds even though it replenished them with other funds to which it had access.

Law 52
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What is the probability of a trademark rejection?

Patent Trademark Blog

What is the probability of a trademark rejection or delay in a trademark application? According to the USPTO trademark dashboard , statistics show that about 43% of trademark applications filed via TEAS receive an approval without any Office Actions. So, less than half of trademark applications filed via TEAS will receive a “first action approval” or “first action allowance.” This means that there is a greater than 50% chance that a TEAS trademark application will be deni

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‘Strong Patents Matter to Protect Innovation,’ Says Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce

IP Close Up

Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently told interviewer David Rubenstein: “That experience [as a venture capitalist investing in medical device and IT health companies] enables Continue reading.

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End of China subsidy will mean fewer ‘junk’ patents

Managing IP

With the patent subsidy coming to an end in June, some counsel predict a sharp decline in low-quality patent applications and a possible rise in litigation

Patent 52
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TTAB Cancels Registration for Gun Barrel Trade Dress on Grounds of Functionality

Above the Fold

On May 20, 2021, the TTAB issued a lengthy and comprehensive precedential opinion canceling Proof Research, Inc.’s registration for the trade dress of a gun barrel (as shown below) on grounds of de jure functionality under Section 2(e)(5). The registered trade dress “consists of trade dress applied to gun barrels formed with a mottled pattern of irregularly-sized, rippled patches, resembling a quilt having striated patches of varying shapes and reflectivity depending on the ambient light source

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Claims Susceptible to Multiple Meanings Cannot be Decided on Rule 12 Motions

Chicago IP

Norix Group, Inc. v. Correctional Techs., Inc. d/b/a Cortech USA, et al. , Slip Op., No. 20 C 1158 (N.D. Ill. Jan. 19, 2021) (Feinerman, J.). Judge Feiinerman granted in part defendant Cortech’s motion to stay pending ex parte reexam and denied Coretech’s Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(b)(6) in this patent case involving “intensive use” beds and shelving units used in prisons.

Patent 40
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Reading list: The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance: Unfair and Deceptive Advertising in Children’s Apps

43(B)log

Mary Kate Fernandez, The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance: Unfair and Deceptive Advertising in Children’s Apps, 66 Loy. L. Rev. 211 (2020) Intro: The University of Michigan released a startling study (“the Michigan Study”) in October 2018 which unveiled that “manipulative and disruptive” advertisements are deceptively built into phone applications (“apps”) designed for children.

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Counsel split on whether USPTO’s TMA rules will deter bad guys

Managing IP

Parties must do their homework before initiating one of the Trademark Modernization Act’s new proceedings, but this may not be enough to deter bad actors

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Recognizing AANHPI Heritage Month: Commerce Department Offers Valuable Resources and Services for Entrepreneurs and Minority and Women-Owned Businesses

U.S. Department of Commerce

Recognizing AANHPI Heritage Month: Commerce Department Offers Valuable Resources and Services for Entrepreneurs and Minority and Women-Owned Businesses. May 25, 2021. KCPullen@doc.gov. Tue, 05/25/2021 - 09:00. Export and investment promotion. Intellectual property. Investing in communities and workers. Space commerce. Graphic of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Businesses. .